The Orlando Magic are entering a pivotal offseason. The team was expected to truly contend in the Eastern Conference in 2025-26, but instead, the team suffered it's third-straight first-round exit.
As a result, head coach Jamahl Mosley was fired, and Sean Sweeney was brought in to lead the team forward. However, the team will likely want to do some roster reshuffling as well, but that won't be easy.
Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, and Desmond Bane are all making at least $32 million per season starting in 2026-27. Plus, the team has to think about an Anthony Black extension as well. This could lead the team to making some hard decisions.
Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley recently identified some players around the league who could be surprise trade candidates. One of Buckley's picks will likely disappoint some Magic fans.
Magic urged to consider trading Franz Wagner
Buckley thinks it could make some sense for the Magic to trade away Wagner. Wagner has been good enough to earn a rookie max extension, but never good enough to make an All-NBA team or truly elevate the rest of the roster.
Regarding a potential Wagner trade, Buckley offered the following:
So, maybe it's time to hold a Banchero vs. Wagner debate. While there are arguments for both sides, the draft investment and subsequent sky-high expectations attached to Banchero, the No. 1 pick in 2022, might have him looking like the keeper.
And, honestly, there might be a richer trade market for Wagner, anyway, since he'd come with less ball-dominance, more defensive utility and superior efficiency—aspects that could all make him easier for a win-now shopper to mix him in with what it already has.
As Buckley mentioned, it's been debated for a while now who is more important between Wagner and Banchero. Banchero was the No. 1 pick for a reason, though, and there's reason to believe he can still reach the next level.
Moving Wagner would help the Magic replenish some of their draft capital that's severely lacking following the Bane trade. It would also free up some spacing for Banchero, as the floor gets a little crowded with Wagner, Banchero, and Wendell Carter all on the field.
Trading Wagner may make the team slightly worse in 2026-27, but it could be better for the future. After all, the Magic have a new head coach anyway for next season, so a slight step back wouldn't be the most unexpected thing.
Wagner averaged 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 2025-26. The German-born forward also had his best three-point shooting season since 2022-23, which could only help his trade value.